Leica SL3 Firmware Update / Bug Fix

[Simone_DF]

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On 8/8/2024 at 9:29 PM, SrMi said:

Leica updated Q3 for the same issue with overwriting files, but nobody noticed or reported it.

Perhaps it’s only an extra precaution update and the issue cannot be reproduced on a Q3. Remember that the Q has a different architecture, which in turn may affect the ability to reproduce the issue.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

50 minutes ago, Simone_DF said:

Perhaps it’s only an extra precaution update and the issue cannot be reproduced on a Q3. Remember that the Q has a different architecture, which in turn may affect the ability to reproduce the issue.

Agreed. And it also has a physical switch so less likely to pull a battery accidentally.

I'm starting to quite dislike the SL3 power switch, the more I use the camera.

Gordon

[SrMi]

6 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

Perhaps it’s only an extra precaution update and the issue cannot be reproduced on a Q3. Remember that the Q has a different architecture, which in turn may affect the ability to reproduce the issue.

I think the physical switch and different, more relaxed use is the reason why nobody observed it with a Q3. After all, most have not encountered the bug with SL3.

If the issue could not be reproduced, Leica would not have issued a firmware fix. I think that there is enough similarities between SL3 and Q3 in some code that Leica recognized it could occur with Q3 as well.

 

 

[BernardC]

7 hours ago, Simone_DF said:

Remember that the Q has a different architecture, which in turn may affect the ability to reproduce the issue.

The SL3 and Q3 both say "Maestro IV" in their tech specs. Probably the difference is the physical on/off switch on the Q3 which made it harder to trigger the bug.

[Simone_DF]

3 hours ago, SrMi said:

I think the physical switch and different, more relaxed use is the reason why nobody observed it with a Q3. After all, most have not encountered the bug with SL3.

If the issue could not be reproduced, Leica would not have issued a firmware fix. I think that there is enough similarities between SL3 and Q3 in some code that Leica recognized it could occur with Q3 as well.

There are indeed similarities, included the Maestro IV, but sometimes defects cannot be reproduced when there's different changes to the hardware, as every element can have a downstream impact on the pipeline including batteries, thermal, etc. 

While I don't work in camera manufacture, I'm speaking from experience here, as I personally have seen some bugs creep in only on very specific hardware models, but not on other, similar models, even with the same chip and overall architecture. The company I worked for released an update to cover all their current models, just in case, because the effort to address the issue on other sku's was minimal, with low risk, high reward. 

[SrMi]

37 minutes ago, Simone_DF said:

There are indeed similarities, included the Maestro IV, but sometimes defects cannot be reproduced when there's different changes to the hardware, as every element can have a downstream impact on the pipeline including batteries, thermal, etc. 

The firmware update says:

"Implementation of a protective function to prevent the possible overwriting of existing shots"

In my book, that means that the bug can be reproduced.

[thebarnman]

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Well, it's now fixed.  Has anyone had any issues with the most recent update?

[jonoslack]

8 hours ago, thebarnman said:

Well, it's now fixed.  Has anyone had any issues with the most recent update?

I certainly haven't had any issues, and I've been keeping a careful eye on others to see if they do - I haven't see anything. I think the fix makes sense and it seems that it's done the job . . . . . . Very hard to be certain though!

[hdmesa]

On 8/12/2024 at 7:54 AM, SrMi said:

I think the physical switch and different, more relaxed use is the reason why nobody observed it with a Q3. After all, most have not encountered the bug with SL3.

If the issue could not be reproduced, Leica would not have issued a firmware fix. I think that there is enough similarities between SL3 and Q3 in some code that Leica recognized it could occur with Q3 as well.

Q3 users didn't notice because Q users are a more sane bunch and would never hot swap an SD card or battery 🫣

[jonoslack]

6 hours ago, hdmesa said:

Q3 users didn't notice because Q users are a more sane bunch and would never hot swap an SD card or battery 🫣

More likely they weren't shooting weddings or events where that kind of behaviour just happens!

[hdmesa]

10 minutes ago, jonoslack said:

More likely they weren't shooting weddings or events where that kind of behaviour just happens!

I’ve been shamed by the Mac OS with a warning message for removing a storage device accidentally without permission for so long now, that it would be unthinkable to me to hot swap camera components. I can’t even bring myself to change lenses with the camera turned on! But I can definitely see how that would be helpful when shooting events.

[michali]

On 8/12/2024 at 9:59 AM, FlashGordonPhotography said:

Agreed. And it also has a physical switch so less likely to pull a battery accidentally.

I'm starting to quite dislike the SL3 power switch, the more I use the camera.

Gordon

It's irritating me as well. When I'm out in the bush shooting, I'm not sure when it's on standby or completely off......🤨

As to changing lenses or batteries with the camera on, lesson learnt some years ago when I changed lenses on my Sony A7 with the power on & fried the camera 🔥

[hdmesa]

7 hours ago, michali said:

It's irritating me as well. When I'm out in the bush shooting, I'm not sure when it's on standby or completely off......🤨

As to changing lenses or batteries with the camera on, lesson learnt some years ago when I changed lenses on my Sony A7 with the power on & fried the camera 🔥

I’m only 12 hours in with my new SL3, but my plan when changing lenses or anything else where I want the power off is to always treat the camera as if it’s on, just like I would with my phone. So a lens change would involve turning on the camera — wake it from sleep or fully power-it up, doesn’t matter because it’s the same push of the button. Then I turn it off with the long press and see the red Leica logo on the screen disappear, meaning the off state is confirmed.

Overall I plan to use the SL3 like my phone. It stays on during the day, and I plug it in to charge at night if needed.

I see where Leica could be going with the Q3 wireless charging grip. Hopefully that will be built into all Leicas so they can be sat on a charger overnight without needing an accessory grip, just like I can do with my phone. 

For the SL4, I think Leica should keep the SL3 power button but also bring back the physical switch. Then we can use the camera either way, and the physical switch becomes a master circuit breaker. Put the physical switch in another location if needed like to the far right on the back, on a swivel switch around the shutter button, or even on the bottom of the camera.

[Photoworks]

1 hour ago, hdmesa said:

I see where Leica could be going with the Q3 wireless charging grip. Hopefully that will be built into all Leicas so they can be sat on a charger overnight without needing an accessory grip, just like I can do with my phone. 

I hear that nobody is loving the Q3 charging matt,  but if they can get the battery back to 1 week like the flip phones used to be, I am in!

1 hour ago, hdmesa said:

For the SL4, I think Leica should keep the SL3 power button but also bring back the physical switch. Then we can use the camera either way, and the physical switch becomes a master circuit breaker. Put the physical switch in another location if needed like to the far right on the back, on a swivel switch around the shutter button, or even on the bottom of the camera.

😆

should there be a red pull tab, like on the door of airplanes, before pulling the battery?

Edited August 14, 2024 by Photoworks

[Olaf_ZG]

17 hours ago, hdmesa said:

 

Overall I plan to use the SL3 like my phone.

That could be a big disappointment. Returning a call would be extremely hard, and holding the camera between shoulder and ear isn’t that smooth. 

[algrove]

On 8/14/2024 at 1:54 AM, michali said:

It's irritating me as well. When I'm out in the bush shooting, I'm not sure when it's on standby or completely off......🤨

As to changing lenses or batteries with the camera on, lesson learnt some years ago when I changed lenses on my Sony A7 with the power on & fried the camera 🔥

For me to know if it's on, I just half press the shutter and if on it starts immediately since I have it sec to 30 sec auto power off.

[ALScott]

On 8/16/2024 at 3:58 PM, algrove said:

For me to know if it's on, I just half press the shutter and if on it starts immediately since I have it sec to 30 sec auto power off.

This.... me too!  That's why I don't understand all the complaints about the power button.  Half press the shutter and start up is so fast there is no way you could get confused between off or on.

[Ken Abrahams]

Very grateful to receive update correspondence regarding the 1/16000 second E shutter fault.  

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[hdmesa]

15 minutes ago, Ken Abrahams said:

Very grateful to receive update correspondence regarding the 1/16000 second E shutter fault.  

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Reminds me I need to submit a report for a bug with auto image review when set to display the shot taken if the shutter button is held down after the shot. In this mode, occasionally the image will stay on the screen even after the shutter button is released.

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Hallo,

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[ALScott]

14 hours ago, Ken Abrahams said:

Very grateful to receive update correspondence regarding the 1/16000 second E shutter fault.  

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I think this is great.  How many companies would respond to someone's report of an issue and not in a form letter?  I understand everyone being upset about the release not being perfect but you can't deny they are addressing the issues.  We all bought these knowing it's not a multi-billion dollar company like Sony/Canon/Nikon with a million developers on staff and that's part of the reason we buy them because they aren't churning out a thousand units a day.  They are a relatively small, niche manufacturer that puts out a unique product that stands out in the marketplace.   Now, rip apart what I have said